Lighter



July A11, 1933.

G. H. r.JASPERT ET AL LIGHTER Filed March 3, 1930 Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Gnomi: II. JASPBBT AND JAMES BI. surnam, oF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, As-

SIGNonS or ONE-THIRD To WILLIAM B. JASI'BRT, or BITTSBUBGH, PBNNSYI..

VANIL LIGHTER Application led Iarch 3, 1930. Serial No. 432,680.

This ,invention relates to pocket lighters for cigars, cigarettes, or the like, the particular lighter having the same general appearance and dimensions as the well known lighters commonly in use.

is conducted to the burner by capillary attraction through a wick element. The burner is lighted through abrasive action effected by a flint element so-called, which is capable of releasing sparks profusely when brought in Contact with a rotatable abrasive element against which it is yieldingly urged by means of a spring.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to eliminate the use of a wick in such containers and to retain the sparking mechanism as heretofore employed.

In carrying out the invention means are provided for drawing a charge of gas from the supply chamber through a burner in a manner similar to the practice of charging burners for fuel-fired furnaces, and by so drawing a charge of combustible vapor, a supply of air is simultaneously projected to the point of combustion.

This invention consists in the provision of means for supplying an element that is eiective in projecting the combustible iuid from the supply chamber to a point of combustion approximately at the burner top.

These and other objects will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing lin which the single figure constitutes a side view partially in section and partially in elevation of a pocket lighter,

- embodying the principles of this invention.

In the drawing 1 constitutes the casing or housing forming a chamber 2 for receiving the combustible fluid indicated at 3; 4 designates a cylindrical chamber formed internally of the main casing 1. The cylindrical member may be made integral with the casing 1 or inserted therein, as may be found most convenient in its manufacture, and the cylindrical chamber may be provided with a removable element such as the screw cap 5, to

'render its interior accessible for the mounting of a piston element 6 and a coil spring 7. The Hurd chamber may be charged through an opening controlled y a screw cap 8.

Mounted at the top of the casing 1 is a burner generally designated at 9, which is provided with a central orifice 10 that is shlelded by a loosely meshed absorbent ma.- terial 1l to prevent the escape of the fluid .8 through the orifice 10 when the lighter is in tilted position.

The burner as shown in the drawing is formed integrally with the top Wall or cover 12 of the casing and is provided with an annular groove 13 that communicates through a passage 14 with the cylindrical chamber i on one end and with a conical passage 15 leading to the burner tip 16.

The piston element-6 is provided with a plunger 17 which is adapted to extend through and project beyond an opening 18 in the wall 12 toward which it is normally biased by the coil spring 7. On top of the wall 12 is the usual sparking mechanism which consists of a socket element 19 for receiving the ilint which is of cylindrical form and biased by a coil spring to rest against the abrading member 20 which is in the Jform of a wheel rotatably mounted to einit sparks from the ilint shown at 21, the sparks being directed to the mouth 16 of the burner 9.

A movable cover 22 is hinged at 23 to the top wall 12 of the casing and is provided at its other end with a lip 24 for engagement with the latch 25 that is pivoted at 26 and biased by a spring 27 to normally rest against the edge of the cover 22.

The free end of the cover is provided with a curved inner face 28 which cooperativel engages the rounded end of the plunger l; to displace it downwardly against the action of spring 7 with the cover in closed position. A sealing member 29 of resilient material such as rubber, is secured to the cover 22 and engages the burner tip to prevent the escape of iiuid or gas when the cover is in place.

The operation of the lighter is briefly as follows: Assuming the plunger to be in the position illustrated in the drawing, the spring 7 will be compressed sufficiently to raise the piston 6 to cause it to travel through the freespace of the cylinder 4 when the plunger 17 is released.

By depressing latch 25 against the action of its spring, the cover 22 will be ralsed through its contact with the plunger 17. and as the piston 6 travels upwardly the air or gas in the cylinder 4 will pass around the groove 13 and upwardly through the conical passage 15 to the mouth of the burner and as this draft or suction effect acts upon the mouth of the central orifice 10, the vapor or gas in the chamber 2 is drawn or forced .out and mixed with the air to form a combustlble mixture.

Upon striking a spark through the mechanism described for that purpose, the combustible charge escaping from the burner will he ignited and on account of the relatively small proportions of the opening of the burner, the movement of the piston 6 W1ll be greatly prolonged thus providing for a strong, continuously-burning flame for at least a sufficient period to light a cigar, cigarette, or the like, as heretofore practiced.

When the lighter has been used, the cover 22 is lowered and the plunger 17 is gradually displaced and moves downwardly against the.

action of the spring 7 until the latch 25 again engages the lip 24.- of the cover. In its closed position, the sealing member 29 will intimately engage the tip of the burner and prevent the escape of fluid as previously explained.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description of this invention that pocket lighters made in accordance therewith eliminate the nuisance of trimming and replacing the wick, and of limiting the capacity of the fluid or charging chamber by the use of absorbent materials as heretofore employed, although the latter may be employed if desired.

It is further evident that the present form of lighter will be positive in its action as long as there is an available spark, since it is notdependent upon the condition of the wick element to furnish a proper combustible mixture. The action of the piston and the suction effect produced at the burner tip assures an adequate and uniform supply of the lighting fluid at all times, and the operating mechanism is, furthermore, fully automatic by virtue of its inherent design, the same actuating mechanism being emplo ed for charging the burner and raising tlie cover when its latch is released.

Although 011e embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

We claim:

1. In a' cigar lighter the combination with a chamber for combustible iluid, of a burner in communication with such chamber, mechanism for projecting said combustible fluid from said burner, and locking means for maintaining said mechanism in an energetic condition, whereby when said locking means are released, said mechanism automatically operates under its potential energy, which mechanism, when said locking means are returned to locking position.. is restored to its energetic condition. 2. In a cigar lighter the combination with a chamber for combustible fluid, of a burner in communication with such chamber, a second chamber containing a combustion-supporting fluid, mechanism for actin upon the fluid in said second chamber for e ecting the movement of said combustible fluid from said first mentioned chamber and through said burner, and locking means for maintaining said mechanism in an energetic condition, whereby when said locking means are released, said mechanism automatically operates under its potential energy, which mechanism, when said locking means are returned to locking position, is restored to its energetic condition.

3. The combination of the neXt preceding claim, in which said locking means are so particularly formed as to comprise a cover for said burner, as well as providing means for the maintenance of said mechanism in energetic condition.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

GEORGE H. JASPERT. JAMES M. GUTHRIE. 

